Infinity Lounge still too noisy for Trenton residents

TRENTON — Fed up with what they feel are unfulfilled promises to reduce noise, nuisance complaints, and garbage in the street, City Council members George Muschal and Kathy McBride blasted representatives of the Infinity Lounge in Chambersburg during a hearing Tuesday.

Neighbors of the Whittaker Avenue club have been complaining about loud music that goes on until well past midnight, public urination and sex acts, and unruly crowds. Residents say the unwanted activity began soon after the site of the former Roman Hall changed hands in 2009.

“The Infinity has taken so much away from our neighborhood,” resident Blanca Ohler said.

“It used to be a place where you could rest at night; it used to be a place where you could feel safe. It’s not like that anymore.”

Owner Richard Zambrano has met several times with neighbors and East Ward Councilwoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson, but members of the governing body have become annoyed the meetings don’t seem to produce results.

McBride noted that complaints about the noise were raised two years ago, “And now we’re back here today and nothing has happened to improve that.”

Zambrano’s lawyer, Antonio Martinez, tried to defend his client but only managed to arouse the ire of council members when he said the neighborhood has “changed.”

“In 2009 it was a ghost town,” he said. “That restaurant survived because it was funded by the society of Roman Hall ... otherwise it would have closed years ago.”

“It’s the establishment’s obligation to comply with the community they are in,” McBride said.

Martinez’s observation that “only” three neighborhood residents showed up to the hearing drew a strong reaction from McBride.

“It would not matter if it was one resident,” McBride said. “Don’t get the numbers mixed up here.”

Muschal protested to Zambrano and Martinez about paper fliers he said were spread throughout his ward on telephone poles, in violation of a city ordinance that assesses a $250 fine for violators.

“Yesterday, I took about 300 posters from my ward,” Muschal said. “Over every telephone pole, over every tree in my ward.”

Zambrano, speaking in Spanish with Martinez translating, tried to counter that the complaints were a personal vendetta by Ohler.

When confronted with violations, Zambrano took responsibility and said he would make amends.

“If it’s prohibited, it won’t happen again,” he said. “Whatever is improper, I will fix it.”
A follow-up meeting with Reynolds-Jackson will be set up, and council will likely impose final deadlines for Zambrano to comply or face sanction.

All the 69 liquor license renewals, including Infinity’s, were approved unanimously at the end of the meeting by the five council members present.